Guss Hiddink to stay with Russia through 2010

Guss Hiddink is to every international team what Jürgen Klinsmann was to US Soccer. Meaning, every time a spot becomes available, his name is thrown into the ring.

But it looks like Hiddink has gone the way of Klinsmann and taken his name out of consideration for at least two years as he has signed a new contract with Russia through 2010. This, combined with their relatively easy group draw, means Russia has a good chance of making it to South Africa.

If he does, it will just be a continuation of his streak that includes the Netherlands (1998), South Korea (2002) and Australia (2006).

Does England have the buyer's remorse?

With the Steve McClaren hire looking worse and worse by the minute (as I write this, England and Andorra are tied 0-0 at half time), it looks like some in the English press are looking at Guus Hiddink as the man to save their 2010 World Cup hopes.

The funny thing is Hiddink was interested in the England job last year, but the FA wanted to hire an Englishman.

Hiddink was overlooked by the Football Association after he expressed interest in the vacancy left by Sven-Goran Eriksson and reacted by becoming manager of Russia, who sit three points clear of McClaren's team and whose two matches against England on September 12 and October 17 will go a long way to determining Group E.

Don't take this as a knock against McClaren or England (although it really should be), but if you have a chance at getting Hiddink and you pass it up for someone with no international experience, well you deserve what you get.

One bit of bad news, if Hiddink has to pick between England and the US (I don't even know if this is an option), I'm guessing he would go English.